Why Is This Deep-Sea Squid Pretending to Be a Plant? Scientists Just Captured the Bizarre Behavior on Camera

At an incredibly deep depth, where sunlight does not penetrate, and food is scarce, researchers have documented a phenomenon that has been baffling marine biologists. In a video shot in December 2025, an unknown type of squid has been spotted digging itself into the seafloor, in an inverted position, in an area of the Pacific Ocean that reaches depths of 4,100 meters.

Unlike other cephalopods, which move about to hunt for food, the squid stretches out its tentacles in the direction of the water column and gently moves them to mimic the movement of plant stalks waving in the current.

In an article by Live Science, it’s stated that the researchers have termed the activity of the squid as “very novel and very puzzling,” as it is hiding in plain sight by mimicking plant life.

An Unusual Form of Mimicry

The squid’s position is even more remarkable because it involves burying most of its body under the sediment while leaving only its tentacles above the seabed. The tentacles move slowly and in a rhythmic motion, just like the natural motion of plant-like structures on the seabed. This motion may help the squid blend into its environment so that its prey does not recognize it as a predator.

From the observations presented by IFLScience, the squid’s position indicates that it may be employing plant mimicry to ambush its prey that swims too close.

This strategy differs from the usual camouflage methods seen in many squid species.

This behavior has been classified by biologists as a type of aggressive mimicry, which is when predators will mimic something harmless in order to capture prey. One of the most well-known examples of aggressive mimicry is from the flower mantis, which is an insect that looks just like a flower and will remain still until pollinating insects land nearby. As summarized by Encyclopaedia Britannica, aggressive mimicry enables predators to improve their hunting success by preying on the instincts of their prey.

The deep-sea squid also seems to have a similar technique. By behaving like stationary organisms that usually develop from the seafloor, the predator may avoid triggering alarm calls in nearby fish or invertebrates. When the invertebrates or fish swim to what appears to be harmless life on the seafloor, the squid strikes and captures its prey.

Rare Cases of Animals Mimicking Plants

Although mimicry is common in nature, animal-plant mimicry is not common. One of the best-known examples of mimicry in the plant kingdom is that of the South American vine Boquila trifoliolata. This vine has the ability to change the shape of its leaves to mimic other plants. In the botany section of Wikipedia, it is written that the vine's special ability is to blend in with the surroundings, thus avoiding herbivores.

Life in the abyssal zone is quite challenging for the organisms living in the marine environment. The temperature is low, and there is no sunlight. The availability of food is also limited.

It is suggested that the ambush tactic of the squid may help it save energy that would be used if it were chasing its prey. The tactic of staying hidden in the sediment while waiting for the food to come close may be an effective way of dealing with the situation where meals are scarce. According to Britannica, many mimicry tactics have evolved because they have led to increased survival and reproduction.

Technology Is Revealing Hidden Behaviors

Findings such as this are now becoming possible due to advances in the technology of exploration of the deep sea. Scientists are using remotely operated vehicles that are equipped with high-resolution cameras that are capable of withstanding extreme pressure and a lack of light.

According to Live Science, these robotic technologies enable scientists to record observations of behaviors that would not have been possible to observe even a few decades ago. Each expedition that takes place continues to provide new species and unexpected methods of survival in one of the least explored ecosystems on the planet.

While the video evidence is certainly conclusive of plant-like mimicry, scientists have indicated that a tremendous amount of further study is necessary to determine the extent to which this behavior is utilized by the squid in its natural habitat.